Where To Eat in Cascais, Portugal | Top 4 Restaurants

Cascais is one of the most beautiful seaside towns I’ve ever known. I’m biased, of course, I grew up here and this is my hometown. But seriously, you will literally fall in love with the romance of this wonderful place, originally a fishing port town, with its quaint center, classic black and white cobblestone streets, the views and duh, THE FOOD! Cascais is so easy to get to – just about a 25-minute beautiful train ride from Cais do Sodré station in Lisbon (trust me, the train runs along the coast down the River Tagus) or else about a 30-minute drive from Lisbon center. Portuguese food is so tasty and there is such a variety to pick from so I figured since I’m local, I would share the list of my top personal Where To Eat in Cascais, Portugal. This list gives you some great options from upscale to my favorite “tasca” (typical Portuguese restaurants). Don’t forget to let me know if you tried any of these spots in the comments below or on the ‘Gram!

Mar Do Inferno | Seafood, Fish | $$$

First up on Where To Eat in Cascais is one of my all-time favorite restaurants in town, Mar Do Inferno. Perched atop the cliffs of Boca Do Inferno (Mouth Of Hell – a lot of fishermen have perished in the rough swells and waves), this seafood and fish spot boasts unobstructed views of the Atlantic Ocean and, on a clear day, even the south coast of Lisbon. Watch the sailboats float by from the terrace over a lunch of delicious seafood including clams (Ameijoas à Bulhão Pato), crab (Sapateira or Santola), oysters (Ostras) and goose barnacles (Percêbes) which are my forever obsession – try them, you can’t find them in many parts of the world but get only a handful since they’re pricey because of how dangerous it is to pry them from their violent and rocky sea homes. As for fish, they do amazing grilled fish of which I recommend Sea Bass or Trout. Their red meat selection is pretty good too so if you have someone in the party who is anti-fish-seafood (remind me why you guys hang out?) perhaps a tender Weiner Schnitzel would be a good option. It is an upscale restaurant and it gets especially busy at the weekend so make sure to get a reservation in!

Price: $50 per person [including wine]
Location: Avenida Rei Humberto II Itália , 2750-800 Cascais CASCAIS, Portugal
Phone number: +351 21 48 32 218
Website: https://www.mardoinferno.pt/en

Sacolinha: Pasteleria | Bakery, Café | $$$

The Sacolinha bakeries are dotted all around Cascais. This is a great option for breakfast, brunch or a quick bite to eat! They recently slapped a pretty big one bang in the center of Cascais, right where the tourists can’t miss it. At Sacolinha you will find an excellent and extremely tasty selection of fresh baked goodies including butter cookies half covered in chocolate (Hungaros), the famous Portuguese custard tarts (Pastel De Nata), sugar-dipped mini croissants (Croissant Doce), donuts, palmiers, oh-so-eggy treats and the list goes on forever! Grab one of these sweet treats along with a coffee! If you’re looking for a quick and delicious sandwich lunch, their savory selection is also great with choices like classic Chorizo Bread (Pão Com Chouriço), mini chicken pies (Empadas De Galinha) and more. To add insult to injury, they make the most heavenly fresh bread which you can ask for toasted or filled with ham & cheese (known as a Sandes Mista or Tosta Mista if you want it toasted) etc. My favorite is the Viana bread. And the Bolinha de Mafra bread. And the soft and floury Fofinho. Or maybe the Pão De Leite. Hang on, perhaps the Brioche. You get my point. GO!

Price: $10 per person
Location (many locations!): Av. dos Combatentes da Grande Guerra, Nº 107 – A – 2750 – 317 Cascais
Phone number: +351 21 486 51 50
Website: http://www.sacolinha.pt/

O Carloto | Typical Portuguese “Tasca” | $$$

The Portuguese “tascas” are the cheap(er) and cheery kind of restaurants where you can really dive into local cuisine and enjoy hearty comfort food. Your table is guaranteed to have a paper tablecloth, a basket of rustic bread, olives and butter/cheese on it. Tascas up and down the country have staple dishes like the typical Portuguese kale soup, Caldo Verde (literal meaning – Green Broth). Tasca menus always have a range of meat and fish dishes but most often, the dishes on the Daily Menu Specials (Pratos do Dia) will be a solid choice because those will usually include whatever is in season. At O Carloto, you can start with their grilled “Queijo Da Serra” cheese topped with oregano specialty. For the main course, I love their tender Bitoque Com Ovo which is basically a delicious steak with an egg on top and home-made chips and a side salad. For a yummy ocean choice, ask for the Grilled Cuttlefish (and for extra fun you can ask for them in their own ink)! Order a little bottle of wine and you’re set!

Price: $25 per person [including wine]
Location: R. Areia 1434, 2750-052 Cascais, Portugal
Phone number: +351 21 486 9014
Website: N/A

Hot Dogs De Cascais | Authentic Fast Food Truck | $$$

This is a must-eat spot in Cascais and one of my very favorites for a quick bite of guaranteed deliciousness! The Hot Dog (or “cachorro” – which actually means “puppy” in Portuguese) truck is a seasonal appearance, from Spring to end of Summer. It is parked along the bluffs on the coastal road in Cascais. There are umbrellas to provide shade from the hot summer sun and little tables to sit at. Get there early because they fill up fast and it’s first come first served! The best part, however, is the near-panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean and Lisbon coast to soak in as you chow into your hot dog in a fluffy and floured bun! The menu is no frills and has only a few (but fantastic) choices which makes it simple to decide what you want. My go-to is the “cachorro completo” which comes complete with white cabbage, red cabbage, grated carrot, onion, grated cheese and Portugal’s signature crispy straw-thin potato fries, known as “batata palha” sprinkled everywhere on top. It comes with all 4 sauces (ketchup, mustard, pink sauce and mayo) if you like. They serve sodas and water too. I didn’t snap a photo of the hot dog for this post (I was so hungry that I ate it all before I remembered) but I promise I will get one up when I visit in June! TRUST ME, these are amazing! If you visit Cascais out of season then there is a Hot Dogs De Cascais permanent set up just a short walk up the street in the gorgeous “Casa Da Guia” which I believe is open all year (but please check because I’m not 100% sure).

Price: $10 per person
Location: Av. Rei Humberto II de Itália 1407, 2750-374 Cascais, Portugal
Phone number: N/A
Website: N/A

And that rounds out my list of Where To Eat in Cascais, Portugal! I hope you try some of these spots and all this information helps to make your visit to my hometown that much more delicious! Happy trails!

Save some more The Casual Free travel guides for future trips: 72 Hours In San Diego, and tips for a 4-day San Francisco getaway!